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Low threshold motor effects produced by stimulation of area preinsularis (2pr.i) of the secondary sensory cortex in the cat; Input-output relationships

Experimental Brain Research volume 51, pages 108–116 (1983)Cite this article

Summary

(1) Intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) delivered to area 2 preinsularis (area 2 pr. i) of the second somatosensory cortex, SII, elicited contralateral distal limb movements with threshold currents as low as 2 μA. (2) The effective sites for a particular movement were located in a small area within the depth of the cortex extending along the direction of the radial fibers. (3) Neurons in an area for a particular movement generally received peripheral input from the skin overlying the muscle to which the area projected. (4) ICMS in area 2 pr.i produced powerful monosynaptic as well as disynaptic activation of pyramidal tract neurons, suggesting that the effect was mediated by the pyramidal tract. (5) Ablation of the motor cortex did not eliminate or otherwise reduce the low threshold responses from area 2 pr.i suggesting that the described effect is independent of the motor cortex.

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Author notes

  1. A. Mori

    Present address: Dept. of Physiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, 173, Tokyo, Japan

Affiliations

  1. The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, 10021, New York, NY, USA

    A. Mori, R. S. Waters &  H. Asanuma

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  1. A. Mori
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  2. R. S. Waters
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  3. H. Asanuma
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Mori, A., Waters, R.S. & Asanuma, H. Low threshold motor effects produced by stimulation of area preinsularis (2pr.i) of the secondary sensory cortex in the cat; Input-output relationships. Exp Brain Res 51, 108–116 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236808

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236808

Key words

  • Sensory cortex
  • Motor effects
  • ICMS
  • Area 2 pr.i